You Make Me Whole

Chapter 7

They pulled up outside Ray’s parents house in Carter’s BMW. As shallow as it might sound, Ray thought the impressive car might contribute to Carter gaining her parents approval. She was going to need all the help she could get once she told them the news. She had called them first thing in the morning asking if she could bring Carter over for lunch. Her mother had squealed with excitement, equally at the fact that Ray had found a man, at that she had been the one to set them up. She didn’t seem to suspect a thing from Ray’s wary tone of voice on the phone, and Ray had been tempted to take the cowardly route of telling her mother the truth before slamming the phone down.

Ed answered the door as he always did before Ray had even gotten out of the car. He had the excitement of a puppy with visitors; one arm leaning heavily on his stick, the other waving frantically. Ray couldn’t help but beam at him. She had missed her father. She hadn’t been over for dinner since the night that her date with Carter had been arranged. At first, she was too embarrassed for her mother to ask how the date went, only to tell her that he didn’t see it working out after Ray had so enjoyed their night together. After that was when Ray started to feel unwell, and found herself without the energy to drive over to her parents.

“There’s my Ray of sunshine,” her father chuckled as he hugged her tight. “We’ve been worried about you, baby. We haven’t seen you in so long and your Mama says you’re sick!”

“I’m all better now, Daddy. Just a cold, I think.”

“It’s working outside at this time of year, it’s not good for your health,” he said wagging his finger at her.

“Well, Luke has given me time off until I feel better,” she said airily, knowing full well he wouldn’t be in any rush to have her back.

Carter had stood nervously behind them the entire time, not wanting to interrupt the joy of Ed seeing his daughter. Ray stood to one side to bring him into view.

“Dad, this is Carter, Barbara’s son.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir,” Carter said perfectly, extending his hand out to Ed. “Thank you for having me here today.”

“Nice to meet you too, son.” Ed shook his hand and gave the least subtle wink possible to Ray, making her bow her head in embarrassment “Not bad,” he mouthed to her with equal stealth. Carter was good enough to pretend not to notice. Ed nodded his head in Ray’s direction.

“She’s something, huh?” he asked Carter. “One of a kind, my little girl.”

“She really is,” Carter agreed, making Ray’s cheeks burn. “She’s something really special.”

Ed nodded in approval before starting his slow shuffle back into the house. “Come in, come in,” he insisted. “Get yourselves out of that cold, especially in your condition, Ray.”

Ray froze in her steps, her stomach doing flips. “My- my condition?” she just about squeaked.

“You’re still recovering from your sickness! Don’t just stand out there when your body has been through all that.” Ray threw Carter a relieved smile as they patiently followed her father into the house.

As always, the smell of her mother’s cooking greeted her, warming up the house, and telling Ray’s body she was home. Her stomach rumbled in agreement, and she was relieved to see that the smell of her mother’s Chilli Con Carne wasn’t knocking her sick like most meals were. It was as if the baby already knew that he or she was in Grandma and Grandpa’s house, and the food here would always be good. She absent-mindedly rubbed her belly, before snatching her hand away in realization.

She found her Mom in the kitchen like she always did and rushed over to kiss her. Seeing her mother gave her the overwhelming urge to express her love and gratitude towards her. It could have been caused by the knowledge that Tanya may have gone through the same terror and uncertainty that Ray was going through when she fell pregnant, or maybe it was caused by how much Ray knew she was going to need her mother’s support and guidance over the next few months, if not years.

She hugged her mother tightly from behind, who jumped in shocked. She hadn’t heard them enter the room as she stirred the Chilli Con Carne whilst humming along to an unknown tune.

“Oh my goodness, Ray! You scared me half to death!” She placed the spoon on top of the pan and turn around to give Ray a proper hug.

“You look thin,” she scolded, pinching Ray’s cheeks together with her fingers. “You don’t eat enough at home on your own. You need to start coming back here for your dinner so I can make sure you eat.”

“I will, Mama,” she replied breezily, causing her mother to stiffen slightly as she noticed the lack of a sarcastic response. “Come and meet Carter.”

“Ahh,” Tanya’s face broke into the widest of smiles as she crossed the room with open arms towards Carter. “I knew you would be good for my daughter,” she said, squeezing him tightly. “Your mother and I had hoped so badly that you two would enjoy your time together.” She placed her hands on his cheeks, grinning up at him.

“We certainly have, Mrs. Silvia. Your daughter has become very special to me,” he said once Tanya had released him from her grasp. Ray had the sickening realization that she had no recollection of what Carter’s last name was. The thought riddled her with guilt. She didn’t even know the last name that her child was going to bear one day.

“And I can see you are very good for her,” she said shamelessly eyeing him up, as if he were a pie in a baking contest. “She needs someone like you to take care of her.”

“Mom! Please!” Ray begged her mother to cut it out. Tanya held her hands up in the air, winking at Carter before she turned back to stirring the pot.

*****

Ray waited until everyone had almost finished their plates before daring herself to bring up the news. If it went down badly, the last thing she wanted was for everyone to continue their meal in silence. Carter kept nervously looking at her from his seat next to her, as if to say “now!” Ray just nodded frantically to get him off her back, waiting for it to feel like the right moment, with the knowledge that it was never going to happen.

“Ray? You’re awful quiet, honey?” Ed asked, concerned. “You feeling okay?”

“Erm…” it was as good a time as any. Ray dabbed her napkin on either side of her and pushed her plate away. “There was something I wanted to talk to you guys about.”

“Ray, get your elbows off the table!” her mother scolded.

“Go on, Ray,” her father encouraged, sensing Ray’s nerves. She felt Carter squeeze her knee under the table for support.

“Well…erm…Carter and I have spent a lot of time together,” she lied. If that offended him, he didn’t react, most likely sensing why she had said it.

“Come on, Ray, spit it out, and don’t fidget so much.”

“Sorry. I…erm…we…we know none of this was planned but…Carter and I are having a baby.” She stared down at the table as the heavy silence fell upon the room, bending her neck as if she could actually feel it. Carter remained sitting up straight, taking her hand, as agreeing to show her parents a united front.

“Ray…you’re pregnant?” Ed whispered, as if unsure it was even possible. He always saw Ray as his little girl, and couldn’t fathom the idea that she was even capable of getting in this situation.

“Mr. and Mrs. Silvia?” Carter said once he cleared his throat, his nerves echoing throughout the room. “I understand you have just met me, and have no reason to trust me, but I promise you that I’ll do everything I can for Ray and the baby. They’re my responsibility now, and I take that very seriously. I want to make her as happy as she deserves to be, and give our baby the best possible life.”

His speech made Ray’s stomach twist in an uncomfortable mixture of gratitude, guilt and exasperation for her situation. She knew he was saying the right thing to say to a pregnant girl’s parents, but his eyes said that he meant every word. He had once again shown how selfless and caring he was, the only thing that Ray hated was the idea that she was someone ‘to look after’. She knew it was true, she would need all the help she could get, but it didn’t make her feel any better about the idea.